Sole for shoes.



L. E. MEYER.

SOLE FOR SHOES. APPLICATION FILED FEB, 27. 1913.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

WI TIVESSES:

LEROY E. MEYER, OF AKRON, OHIO.

SOLE FOR SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 27, 1913. Serial No. 750,962.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Lnuor E. 1141111212, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Sole for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in soles for shoes and is especially applicable to soles made of rubber or composition adapted for use on athletic shoes and the like.

The objects of the invention are to generally improve devices of the character mentioned, to provide an improved construction and means for attaching the sole to the upper of the shoe. These objects, together with other objects readily apparent to those skilled in the art, may be attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, although the invention may be embodied in other forms, the construction illustrated being chosen by way of example.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a bottom-or tread view of a sole embodying my IIIVQIibeing broken away to more fully disclose the construction. Fig. 2 is an edge view of a similar sole with a portion broken away. Fig. 3 is aitransverse sectional View through a sole embodying my invention, showing portion of the upper of the shoe, the view being taken on the line 33 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Throughout the several views similar reference numerals indicate similar parts.

More specifically tion, a portion describing the construction disclosed in said drawings the numeral 1 generally indicates the tread or bottom surface and the numeral 2 the upper surface of a sole, the body of which is preferably formed of compressible, elastic material such as rubber. In outline said sole is of the usual general design, and may be made in accordance with any shaped last which may be desired. Around the outer edge, intermediate the surfaces 1 and 2, the sole is provided with a continuous kerf or slit extend ing in a plane parallel to the plane of the surfaces 1 and 2 for a slight distance in from the edge of the sole. as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. While the main body of the sole vis therefore of one undivided piece the edges are provided with an uppera-ttaching portion 3- and the stitching-covering portion 4. The upper-attachingportion the same attached to a 3 is preferably provided on the inner por- 5 which is connected, as by vulcanizing, to

the portion 8, but in the first instance is disconnected from the portion 4. Onthe upper surface 2 is preferably arranged a ply of muslin 2 to provide a more desirable surface for direct contact with the foot of the wearer or to receive an insole, as may be de sired.

In attaching a sole of this construction to an upper the portion 4, being flexible, is bent away as shown in dotted lines at 6 in Fig. 3 and the stitching 7, of usual form, extends through the upper 8, the ply of muslin the upper attaching portion 3 and the fabric 5, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The fabric 5 provides a firm and substantial anchorage for the stitching preventing the same from cutting into the portion 3 and thus ruining the shoe. The upper having been stitched to the sole as described, the stitching-covering portion 4 may be cement ed or vulcanized down to the fabric .5 and upper attaching portion 3 by suitable cement, thus closing the kerf or slit around the edge of the sole and providing a covering for the stitching 7, as in Fig. 3.

hen the soles aremade of rubber and the fabric 5 is arranged asdescribed it will be understood that the portions 3 and 4 should be kept from adhering to'each other, as by the use of graphite or soapstone, until the sole is attached to the upper, whereupon the graphite or soapstone may be removed and the parts cleaned as by the use of benzin before uniting By reason of the fact that the fabric 5 does not'extend outwardly to the edge of the portions 3 and 4, said portions may be united directly to each other at the edge of the sole, thus producing a substantially or completely invisible joint.

For the purpose of providing pneumatic or suction means whereby to prevent slipping and the like the sole may be provided on the tread surface with any desired number of suction cups 9 constituting dome shaped or hemispherical recesses opening through said tread surface at their greatest diameter and extending from said surface upwardly into the body of the sole, as illustrated in the drawings.

Itis to be especially noted with regard to Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

early illustrated said parts as above described.

the construction described that by reason of the fact that the stitching 7 does not extend entirely through the sole, the thread surface of the sole is uniform and uninterrupted throughout its extent and the compressibility and elasticity of said sole at the edges is not appreciably diminished. Furthermore the said stitching is not exposed to wear as is the case when the same extends entirelythrough the tread surface of the sole, and a much firmer and more substantialrconnection with the sole is made by reason of the use of the fabric 5 made possible by my peculiar construction.

Soles embodying my invention may readily be attached to the uppers of any shoes of ordinary construction or kind by any shoemaker'or repair-man, making it possible to replace worn soles by new ones when desired at comparatively slight expense;

While I have mentioned rubber and composition and fabric as my preferred structural materials I do not wish to be limited in this respect as other materials might be substituted therefor, and it will be understood that other changes of form and construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the intent or spirit of the invention.

I claim and the like provided 1. A sole for shoes around its outer edge with a kerf extending to the upper surface substantially parallel producing an upperof the sole, saidkerf attaching portion and a stitching-covering portion, and a stitching-anchoring member on the lower face of said upper-attaching portion, the stitching-covering portion being adapted to be temporarily bent away from said upper-attaching portion to permit stitching through said upper-attaching portion and anchoring member and to be united to said upper-attaching portion and anchoring member .to cover said stitching and provide a uniform tread surface extending to the edge of the sole..

2. A sole for shoes formed of elastic material and comprising a main body portion having top and tread surfaces and integral upper-attacl iing and stitching-covering portions at the edges of said sole, and a stitchinganchoring member connected to said upper-attaching portion on its under surface adjacent said stitching-covering portion, said stitching-covering portion being adapted to be bent away from said upperattaching portion whereby to permit the upper of a shoe to be sewed to said upperattaching portion, and said stitching-covering portion being adapted to be connected to said upper-attaching portion in a plane to continue the tread surface of said sole uninterruptedly to the edge of the same. i

3. A rubber sole for shoes provided at its edge with a continuous kerf extending into the body of the sole substantially parallel tothe general plane of the sole, forming an upper-attaching portion and a stitchingcovering portion, and fabric, constituting a stitching-anchoring member, connected to said upper-attaching portion on the lower side thereof adjacent said stitching-coveriug portion and said stitching-covering portion being adapted to be temporarily bent away from said upper-attaching portion and further adapted to be connected to said upperattaching portion, said stitching-covering portion being adapted, when connected to said upper-attaching portion, to continue the tread surface of said sole to the extreme edge thereof.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

LEROY E. MEYER. 

